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DECEMBER, 1897. 






jfeetival ^bouQbts 



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Hnb ©tber IDersee. 



Jljfe. ^ife :^ J!fe, J,^ 



By Pastor W. H. Creever, 
Bluefield. W. Va. 



,T?s 



1241 



Copyrighted by W. H. Greever, 1897. 




reface- 



The publication of these verses is an after- 
thoug-ht. Their production has been prompted 
by various circumstances Some were written 
for the immediate, personal use of the author 
in festival celebrations, in |)arochial paper, etc., 
and some merely as the expression of his own 
feeling-s and convictions K fciu were written 
after the publication of this little booklet was 
undertaken, and for this purpose. In all they 
represent the diversified efforts of the author 
in versified thoug-ht for three years. Without 
any claim for special merit, either in form or 
matter, they are now allowed to go forth, pub- 
lished by, and for, the Ladies' Aid Society of the 
Immanuel Evang-elical Lutheran Conufregation 
at Bluefield, W. Va. The author, while grate- 
fully acknowledg-ing" the compliment, gratuitous- 
ly places upon the abov^e mentioned society the 
responsibility for this publication, and humbly 
requests the public to judge this work of the 
good women with charity. 



w. H. G. 



Bluefield, W. Va. 
Deeember\ iSgj. 




PRESS OF 

The Daily Telegraph, 

1897 



*^t«^^t i^^'/^^l' 



^ ntiobuction , 



Who'erthe writer, let him thinlc. 
E'er he presumes To use his ink, 
Hest lee it dry upon his pen, 
Than write false words for other men. 
If he but word< alone can write, 
Which ne'er deserve to see the lig:ht. 
Or words alone, which, broug'ht today, 
Would only lead the world astraj', 
'Twere better far no word he wrote. 
Or g'ave the world a chance to quote 
A single Uiie that e'er might lead 
A fellow man to evil deed. 

****** 
For words are seeds, which, when we sow, < 
Are sure to live and sure to grow, 
And sure lo bear for good or ill— 
No mattef what the writer's will- 
Eternal fruit, which still shall grow. 
And still in turn its seeds shall sow. 
When he who let the first seed fall 
Has ceased to sow, by death's dread call. 
And like his pen, devoured by rust. 
Has turned again to mother dust. 
Who then can dare to sow this seed. 
Till he has paid most earnest heed. 
To that good fruit which it may beai-. 
Or those poor souls he may eusnare"/ 

***** * 

And words are motors wherein lies 
The greatest pow'r beneath the skies— 
The pow'r of thought which moves men's souls. 
And drives them on to highest goals, 
Or hurls them down, as with a breath. 
To deepest shame and awful death— 
The pow'r which lifts to all that's high. 
And gives a life which ne'er can die. 
Or drags men down to all that's low- 
To horrid pits of endless woe - 
The pow'r which leads to God above 
Through Christ, his wondrous gift of love — 
Or that dread pow'r which hides God's face 



And makes the heart despise his grace. 
Who theu this pow'r will dare abuse 
And yet t':> ponder dare refuse? 

***** 
And words are light's which ever shine 
With evil glare, or glow divine; 
And ever aid God's way to lind, 
Or else but serve men's eyes to blind. 
False lights are they, which but mislead. 
To darkest road and b'ackest deed. 
Or lights of truth which mark the way 
From error's night to truth's bright day- 
false lights which lure to death's domain. 
To languish there in endless pain, 
Or lights of tru( h for which men long, 
By which the ri^jht to know from wrong. 
AV ho dares write words which thus may give 
A blinding light to those who live, 
And thus by light, a darknes-) throw 
Which forms the uight of awful woe? 
***** 
So, loid, I pray, these words of mine 
May nothing teach but that is ihine; 
L,ord, let thy love up'^n them rest. 
That all who read them may be blest. 



^bvcnt 



'"mbo is ZbisV 



I. 

"Who is This?" 

Ang-elic hosts fill all the skies, 

The sinful world in slumber lies; 

The choirs of Heav'n do now appear, 

But earth's asleep and will not hear; 

A few poor shepherds on the plains, 

Awake to hear the joyous strains; 

But three wise men of all earth's wise, 

Are on their way with sacrifice. 

At Bethlehem, so quaint and old. 

As prophets had so long- foretold. 

Is born tonig-ht, as Mary's Son, 

In human form, the Holy One. 

His first advent to sin-cursed earth. 

He makes tonig-ht, throug-h human birth. 

Come hither, shepherds, from your plains ! 

Sing- here, ye choirs, your g-laddest strains ! 

Here, wise men, here your tributes g-ive! 

And rouse, ye world, to look and live! 

We// may ye ask tv/io t/iis may l^e 1 
■ ' Tis but a /ozu/y babe ye see, 

And ye/ the Lord of /ords is lie. 

II. 

"Who IS This?" 

No ang-el hosts do now appear. 



7 



No heav'nly strains come now to cheer, 
But earth at last seems all awake. 
Its rig-htful Lord, its King- to make. 
From Bethlehem his humble way 
Hath led him on from day to day, 
In lowliness and meekness g-reat 
For man, with man, to live and wait. 
Now shouts of triumph g-reet his ear, 
And hallelujahs loud and clear. 
The pressing- throng-s proclaim him King-, 
And earth and skies with praises ring-. 
He heeds them not, for he doth know 
These shouts of joy but herald woe. 
In solemn grandeur doth he rise 
Above these vain and empty cries. 
And mid it all doth weep to see 
Their desolation yet to be. 
We// may ye as/c zuho this may be! 
A meek uncrozvned man ye see, 
And yet tJie King of lyings is he. 

ni. 

"Who IS This?" 

The Ang-el stands on land and sea. 
And swears that time no more shall be; 
The hosts of Heav'n ag-ain appear 
With shouts of triumph loud and clear; 
Mid clouds of g-lory comes ag-ain. 
He, who so long- did dwell with men. 
At his one word from out the skies. 
Earth's sleeping millions all arise. 
With thunder heav'ns do pass away. 



And on this great and awful day, 
The earth itself, as He deems meet, 
Is now consumed with fervent heat. 
Earth's dead and living-, great and small, 
Now hear and heed their Judge's call. 
From east and west, from sea and land. 
They come before their Judge to stand, 
And there before that g-reat white throne. 
Though mid the hosts, each stands alone. 
None ask today who this may be! 
With Joy, or shame, each now doth see, 
That King and Lord of all is he. 



^bristmas. 

©ur Xor&, (Ibiist ^esus, Came> 



["This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation 
^p that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 

■'• —1 Tim. 1:15] 

[Prepared as a Christmas recitation for eight little girls J 
He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 
All blessed be his holy name! 

From Heaven's courts which ever ring- 
With songs of praise which ang^els sing-; 
Where mvriad hosts with perfect will. 
In love do all his words fulfil; 
Where g-lory, honor, joy and praise 
Are his, and his for endless days. 
And he, as God, all pow'r doth wield, 
While to his will all else doth yield — 
From Heav'n where all is perfect bliss. 
To such a world of woe as this 

He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus, came. 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, cuine! 

All blessed be his hub,' nnme! 

From brig-htest realms so pure within 
To this lost world so black with sin; 
Where sorrow, sickness, pain and death 
Hold sway from birth to parting- breath; 
Where none do g-ood, not even one. 
But all, in darkness, hate the sun; 
Where rebel hearts his love would spurn, 



lo 



And bitter hate g-ive in return — 
Yet, thoug-h all this he so well knew, 
Poor, humble, meek, for me and you 
He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus, came. 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

As God, by whom all worlds exist, 
Whose word no pow'r could e'er resist. 
With g-lory, majesty and mig-ht. 
Measured alone as infinite. 
To be true man, for man to die. 
He left his g"lory home on hig-h — 
Became a babe of humblest birth, 
A homeless friend to all the earth! 
And thoug-h it meant such poverty, 
And at the end the cursed tree. 

He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus, came. 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

'Twas not new pow'r or wealth to win. 
But just to save lost souls from sin — 
Lost souls that e'er would strive in vain 
To free themselves from endless pain. 
And for their sins were sure to go 
To darkest realms of deepest woe. 
Had he not come that Calvary 
Might pay their debt and make them free. 
This wondrous price he freely gave, 
When sinner souls from death to save. 
He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus came. 



// 



He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

'Twas love alone most pure and gfreat, 
Which, counting- not man \s scorn and hate,^ 
Would lay aside such g^lory hig-h, 
In human flesh to live and die — 
Of richest crowns its head would bare, 
A crown of thorns instead to wear. 
But love divine could move him so 
To drink this bitter cup of woe. 
And thoug-h but few would him believe, 
And life, with love, from him receive; 
He catne, our Lord, Christ Jesus, came. 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

Whatever be false, this word is true. 

He came to save both me and you. 

Though earth and sky should pass away. 

The sun refuse to light the day. 

And man himself should cease to be, 

This word, through all eternity. 

As word of God would faithful prove^ — 

God's living truth, which naui/ht can move. 

How worthy then acceptance here. 

For 'twas in love and not for fear, 

He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus came! 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

And yet, while we do thus rejoice 
To hear our Savior's loving voice. 



12 



There millions bo who dwell in sin 
And ne'er have let this Savior in; 
And millions too, who ne'er have heard 
The sound of this most precious word, 
But dwell in darkest heathen nig-ht, 
Without one ra\' of Gospel lig-ht — 
For these, in deep humility, 
Loving- as much as you and me, 

He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, oime! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

And to us here, though we be weak 
And oft our tongues refuse to speak. 
These tidings glad, in trust, he gave — 
That he had come lost souls to save. 
Such trust as this has ne'er been giv'n 
E'en to the angels up in heav'n. 
Immortal souls boug-ht at such price 
As his own life in sacritiee, 
Are trusts to men who him have heard 
And have the pow'r to speak this word — 
He came, our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

(In concert.) 

He came! Our Lord, Christ Jesus, came! 

All blessed be his holy name! 

To him our hearts and all we give, 
For him henceforth in all to live! 
While here on earth his praise to sing- 
And Gospel light to all to bring, 
In all our ways his g-race to show. 



^3 



And daily in that grace to grow, 
Till we once more in joy shall hear 
The ang-els shout in accents clear, 
Not that he comes for us to die, 
But to receive his own on hig-h, 

He comes, our Lord, Christ Jesus, comes! 



<^|^ 



14 



JBrev>iti5 of Xife. 



How short this life! And all its days, 

How soon they fl}' away! 
How near the end, when life beg-ins! 

How brief our earthly stay! 

The steps we take, which soon are done, 

But mark it in its flig"ht, 
As in the day the moments mark 

The coming- of the nig-ht. 

'Tis but a touching- on the shores 

Before we cross the sea. 
'Tis but the robing^ of new souls 

To meet eternity. 

As flowers lift their dewy heads 

To g-reet the mornintr sun, 
All full of life and beauty sweet 

In life that's just beg-un, 

But e'er the shades of ev'ning- come 

Do droop, and fall and die — 
Their frag-rance g-one, their beauty fled. 

And worthless all they lie — 

So our brief life beg-ins to fade, 

E'er comes its fullest bloom, 
And scarce are morning-'s dew drops dry, 

Till comes the ev'ning- g-loom. 



rs 



The hands we clasp in life today, 

Tomorrow folds in death; 
And as the wind which no man sees, 

So flies man's fleeting- breath 

This moment bring-s the sunshine bright. 
The next, the nig-ht-black cloud; 

This moment bring-s the world's g-ay g-arb, 
The next, the tomb's dark shroud. 

And life when long-est, still is brief! 

In time how short its space! 
And in the g-reat eternity, 

It scarce can find a place. 

And life when shortest, oh, how brief! 

One breath may mark its flig-ht, 
One g-leam alone may make its day, 

And bring- it back to nig-ht. 

Yet longest life, when it is done. 

To shortest life compared, 
Is but a little longer breath, 

Of which both lives have shared — • 

But little long-er time to bloom, 

A little long-er flig-ht, 
A little long-er g-limpse of day, 

A little less of nig-ht. 

For when the soul has flown away, 

And life on earth is done, 
The longest life and shortest life. 

In leng-th of d^ys are one. 



So brief is life, so soon is past, 
That briefest thing's of earth. 

Fit symbols are of that brief space 
Between the g-rave and birth. 

And yet, to souls that liv^e for aye, 

'Tis ail that God has giv'n, 
In which to turn from sin and death. 

And thus prepare for Heav'n. 

This brief space here the soul doth spend. 

And then it takes its flight 
To dwell for aye in Heaven's day. 

Or pass to endless nig-ht. 

Who then will stay for one short day. 

In sin's dark, dismal pow'r, 
Lest death should come, and all be lost, 

E'er comes that day's last hour? 

Oh! sinner, list! The Savior calls, 

"Look unto me and live. 
Believe, receive. To all who come. 

Eternal Xxio. I g-ive." 

If thou wilt hear, thou need'st not fear 

To earth to bid farewell; 
A vvand'rer here he takes thee home, 

With him for aye to dwell. 

No 'matter then if soon or late. 

His call should come to thee; 
'Tis but release from sin and pain. 

Forever to be free — 



n 



For -aye to live in realms of light, 

And there to realize 
That this brief life, so full of strife — 

Yet which we so much prize — 

Is but a birth to that true life, 

Which God, throug-h Christ, has giv'n. 
In which is all, complete and full, 

That makes a perfect Heav^'n. 









i8 



% 



BsiDe mxitb ^csus. 



Dear Lord, when thou on earth didst walk, 

And face to face with men didst talk, 

Thou oft, with thine own chosen few. 

To desert place apart withdrew; 

And there, away from crowd and din, 

And off the dark hig-hways of sin 

Where none of earth's allurements dwelt 

And thine own presence most was felt. 

Thou didst eternal truth reveal, 

And so upon it set thy seal, 

That those who saw and heard believed, 

And thine eternal truth received. 

In close communion there with thee, 

Their visions cleared till they could see 

The hopeless wretchedness of hearts 

To which, its venom, sin im|»arts, 

And then in thee, who vision g"ave. 

The Son of God, who came to save. 

But 'twas in love for three long- years, 

Throug"h many doubts, denials, fears. 

That thou in patience didst them lead. 

And as the Shepherd g^ood didst feed, 

E're they thy truth didst so receive, 

And all thy word didst so believe. 

That thou couldst send them out in turn 

As those from whom the world could learn. 



^9 



And since it thus must ever be 

With all who ti'uly follow thee, 

My heart doth yearn to turn aside 

From worldly cares, and selfish pride, 

From pleasure's vain and empty show — 

Which do but add to human woe — 

Alone with thee to spend awhile. 

Where Satan's pow'rs cannot beg-uile. 

Lead thou the way, but lead me far 

From aug-ht which mig-ht communion bar; 

And be it desert lone and waste, 

Its burnings sands at least are chaste. 

And in its midst thou'Ut be for me 

A paradise from tempters free. 

I long- to open wide my heart, 

Thoug-h 'neath thy piercing- eye it smart, 

And have thee burn away the dross 

Which, should I keep, is but my loss. 

My inmost thoughts I long- to speak. 

And tell thee all for which I seek. 

I know my heart is vile and vain. 

With no part free from sin's black stain; 

I know when thou my heart doth see 

That naug-ht of good thou'llt find in me; 

Yet all my sins I would confess. 

That thou my sinful heart may bless — 

For tliou, O Christ, and only thou, 

Can'st save and purify me now. 

Here search me. Lord. Naught will I hide. 

To thee my heart 1 open wide. 

Purg-e out the vile, the low, the mean! 

Cleanse thou, and then I shall be clean! 



20 



But not for this alone 1 long-, 

That I myself be free from wrong-; 

The world in wickedness doth lie, 

For which on Calv'rj thou didst die, 

And it, dear Lord, I fain would win 

From this dark night of woe and sin. 

And so I'd come with thee apart 

That thou might'st cleanse and bless my heart 

And g-ive me there, thoug-h desert place, 

Such measure of thy love and grace 

That I throug-h it, might g-o ag-ain 

And with it save my fellow men. 

Help me to see thee as thou art; 

Help me accept thee with my heart; 

Help me in will and way and mind 

Thy will my g-iiide supreme to find; 

Help me to lov'- as thou dost love 

And live on earth for Heav'n above; 

Help me myself in all deny 

And humbly at thy feet to lie; 

Help me my all to thee to g-ive 

That thou thyself in me may live. 

Ye:i, Lord, put thou in m^- that mind 

Which in thyself I ever find. 

And I henceforth will truer be. 

To ftllow man and. Lord, to thee. 

May I be weaned from worldly care 

And all that mig-ht my soul ensnare, 

And may I rist- to that high plane 

Which marks the real from all that's vain. 

Thus /;; the world I'll live for thee, 

But of the world will never be. 



2/ 



And so this season, Lord, Fd spend 

That when at last I reach its end, 

I may thy truth so well have learned, 

And that received for which I've yearned. 

That ever after men may see 

That all these days were spent with thee. 




22 




aster. 

Xlbe JEaster Stor^i. 



'Tis Easter morn, and as I gaze 

On yon brig-ht rising- sun, 
My thoug-hts run backward throug-h the years, 
As thoug-hts alone can run. 

From year to year and ag^e to ag-e. 

So back throug-h time I'm borne. 
Till now I stand where others stood, 

That first g-reat Easter morn. 

Three days before on Calv'ry's brow 

The Son of God had died — 
By man refused, by man accused, 

For man was crucified. 

And hope with him, for trusting hearts, 

Had died upon the Cross, 
And all that it had counted g-ain 

Must now be counted loss. 

The rocky tomb received the King- 
That men had thoug-ht to reig-n. 

His foes rejoiced, his cause seemed lost, 
And all his life seemed vain. 

But foes knew not that he was God^ — 

And those who knew forg-ot — 
To whom thing's not are as they were, 

And thino-s that are as not. 



2J 



No rock-ribbed tomb could hold that King, 

To whom all povv'r was g"iv'n, 
W ho held the world within his hand, 

And ruled supreme in Heav'n. 

Thouufh ev'ry man became a g-uard. 

And evVy stone a seal, 
His mig^hty pow'r would break them ;ill, 

And thus to men reveal 

That he was God of earth and Heav'n, 

And mig-htier than men; 
That he had pow'r to g-ive his life. 

And take that life ag-ain. 

So on that first great Easter morn, 

As he had said before. 
He burst death's chains which held him bound. 

And lived — to die no more. 

As forth he came the earth did quake. 

And men became as dead. 
No more was he a death bound man. 

But living- God instead! 

While vet the morning stars did sing". 

Before yon sun hi'd ri>'n. 
The Ang-el rolled the stone away 

From that dark earthly pris'n. 

And from its g-loom came forth a lii^ht 

Which turns that sun to shame — 
The star of hope, which there did rise, 

When forth its Maker came. 



H 



The star of. hope, which e'er will shed 

In all the world its light, 
For wand'ring- souls that long- to leave 

The darkness of the nig-ht. 

Behind the Cross that star of hope 
Had sunk in deepest g-loom. 

And it alone could rise ag-ain 
From out Christ's empty tomb. 

No blacker night e'er wrapt the world. 
Than those dark nights of woe, 

When Light of lights was in the tomb, 
And bound there by his foe. 

But night is past, the day is come! 

Oh! happy vvas the hour! 
When Jesus burst the bonds of death, 

By his alinight}' pow'r. 

And came forth radiant from the tomb 

Eternal King to reign — 
And yet for man to pray and plead 

And save from sin and pain. 

Till all the courts of Heaven sound, 
With songs the ransomed sing. 

Of praise and honor to the Lamb, — 
Their Savior and their King. 

At morning's dawn the women came. 
With heavy hearts, but true, 

T' anoint the form they loved so vvell, 
'Twas all that thev could do. 



25 



They thoug^ht their Lord but dying- man, 
They thoug-ht him mortal clay. 

Their hearts knew not th;it mig-hty truth. 
Which on that Easter <lay, 

Would turn ihe world from out its course. 

And till it with ;i lig-ht, 
To which all other lig-hts are dark, 

And day is as the nig-ht. 

As they iipproached, behold the stone 
Which closed that tomb of nig-ht. 

Was rolled awa\-, and on it sat 
An ang-el, robed in white 

They stood ag-hast! They started back! 

Their hearts were filled with fear. 
But love was strong-, it would not yield, 

And so they still drew near. 

The ang-el speaks. Oh matchless wordsl 

The end of human fear! 
"For he is ris'n, as he said, 

Your Master is not here." 

Yes, matchless words that hold the pow'r 
Which makes the world g-o free. 

He bled, he died, he rose again 
That all mig-ht live as he. 

And blessed words, these words of life» 
Which ope' the g-ates of Heav'n, 

And form the (leeds to heav'nly claims,. 
Which God to men has g-iv'n. 



26 



The crowning- work of all God's pow'r 

Was g-iving- life to man. 
The crowning work of all God's love, 

Salvation's wondrous plan. 

The crowning- act in that g-reat plan, 

His vict'ry o'er the g-rave, 
For in bis pow'r to conquer death. 

Was all his pow'r to save. 

But death's o'ercome, its sting- is g-one, 

No more need man it fear. 
The risen Christ proclaims this truth, 

Where all who will may hear. 

And as I greet yon Easter sun, 

I turn my eyes to see. 
Of all that work which Jesus did, 

What part he did for me. 

For me hu left his glorious home, 

-Amid the courts of Heav'n. 
To earth he came for me, to live — 
For me his life was g-iv'n. 

For me, he burst the chains of death. 

And thus he made me free. 
He suffered, died, and he arose — 

He did it all for me 

So, gracious Lord, I pray thee now. 

My all to take for thee. 
My heart, my thoughts, my life, my all! 

And let them ever be. 



27 



Thy name to praise, thy will to do, 

Thy love to men to tell. 
Till thou shalt say, "Come, welcome home, 

For thou hast served me well." 




28 



j^ i8ceUaneous> 

mbat isXife? 



"Just what is life?" the pilgrim asked, 
•^i^ As weary grew his way; 

And nature caug-ht his question great, 
And thus began to say, 

What true life was, as that life came. 

To all its many parts — 
The motive prompting action in 

Its many, many hearts. 

"My life's a song-,"' the glad bird said. 
And sang- from tree to tree. 

Till all his life he made a song- — 
He thought it oug-ht to be. 

"My life is labor," said the bee. 
And worked from flower to flower. 

It ev'ry precious minute used. 
And thus, each precious hour. 

"My life is joy," the dew drop said, 

A-sparkling- in the sun. 
But in a moment vanished there, 

E'er life had scarce begun. 

"My life is firmness," said the rock. 
And, changeless, hard and cold. 

Cared not if sun should kiss his brow. 
Or tempest o'er him rolled. 



jg 



"My life is peace," the calm lake said — 

No wave upon its breast — 
A.nd as it drank the sweet sunbeams, 

Its life was peace and rest. 

"My life is kindness," said the brook. 
And then it sang- this song- — 

"I'll scatter blessing as I go 
To all, my course along-." 

"My life is purpose," said the stream, 

"If I a river be, 
I'll onward flow in one straig-ht course 

Till I shall reach the sea." 

"Nay, life is love," a whisper said. 

As if from one above, 
"For God himself is Life of life, 

And God himself is love." 

"Yea, life is love," the pilg-rim said. 

And dropt his look of care. 
"Yea," nature answered, "life is love"- 

And love was everywhere. 



30 



Mf3atisXope? 
I. 

Tru^ lo^^e's a seedlet, drop't by God 

Into the human soul, 
To live, tog-row, to spread, and then 

At last to fill the whole. 

Who said this seedlet e'er can die? 

'Tis false! It ever lives. 
It g-rows and bears eternal fruit, 
For Him who all love g-ives. 

XL 
True love's the bond from God's own hand, 

io human hearts here o-iv'n, 
To bind themselves to other hearts. 
And bind ^?// hearts to Heav'n. 

Who said these love bonds e'er do break' 

'Tis false! They last for aye. 
Soul linked by love to other soul, 

Not time can tear away. 

III. 
True love's a beam of lig-bt divine 

From the g-reat Sun above— 
'Tis God himsylf who, Beam and Sun, 

Fills all the world with love. 

Who said these love beams e'er can fail? 

Tis false! For aye they shine. 
For aye from God to hearts they come- 

Eternal as divine. 



.?/ 



Collect for peace. 



O God, from whom to man proceed 

All counsels g"Ood, each holy deed. 

All pure desires from which these sprino-, 

And all the g-ood that life can bring-: 

That peace g"ive thine, who for Thee live, 
Peace which the world can never g"ive. 
So that our hearts be set in truth, 
To keep thy word in ag"e or youth. 

By Thee defended from the fear 
Of enemies, both far and near. 
May we in quietness and rest 
Pass all our time thus undistressed. 

Throug^h Him who lives and reig-ns with Thee, 
And with the Spirit, One in Three, 
Yet ever One, world without end — 
To Thee our prayer doth now ascend. 



32 



/IDatin Collect. 



O Lord, our Father from above, 
Almig-hty God, Eternal Love: 
Our sinful lives by dang-ers fraug-ht, 
Thou safely to this day hast brought. 

Through all this day, through ev'ry hour. 
Defend us with thy mighty povv'r. 
And grant that we no sin may Hnd, 
Nor danger meet of any kind. 

But grant that we in all our ways 
May follow Thee through endless days, 
And ordered by Thy gov'rnance rig-ht, 
May sinless be in Thy pure sight. 

Throug"h Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, 
Our blessed Lord, who reigns as One, 
With Father, Spirit evermore — 
From Thee these blessings we implore. 



©uiDance. 



"[ will guide thee with mine eye." — Ps . 32:8. 

A blinded wretch, bereft of light, 

I'm groping-. Lord, in darkest night. 

With each new step I do but stray 

To darker depths, from light away. 

Temptations, doubts, afflictions, cares. 

Do seal my eyes to Satan's snares, 

While with false lights, which he doth send. 

They lure me on to his sad end. 

Just one step more and I may be 

In hell's dark night, eternally. 

Wild terror doth my poor heart chill. 

And horrid woe my soul doth fill! 

Oh! speak, dear Lord, and let me hear 

Thee say to me, "Thy God is near." 

****** * * 

Hush, heart! He speaks. Each word receive. 

"I'm with thee, child, nor will I leave. 

I hear thy cry of wild despair. 

Which need and faith have made a prayer, 

And in this hour of thy dark night, 

I come to thee to be thy light. 

I'll lead thy steps, instruct thy heart. 

And ne'er from thee will I depart. 

I'll guide thee well, while here below. 

In all the ways where thou shalt go. 

Where'er thou art, I still .'im nigh; 

Yea, I will guide thee with mine eye." 

Enough, dear Lord, thy word I hear, 



34 



Naug-ht more have I for which to fear. 
Here take my hand, thou God of day, 
Thou art my light, thou art my way. 
Throug-h thee I now shall clearly see, 
The path which thou shalt choose for me; 
And oft as sinful shadows rise, 
To hide that path from my poor eyes, 
I'll turn to thee, who still art nigh, 
And thou shalt guide me with thine eye. 



'^m'w^ 



ss 



H)atlv /iDeMtation. 



When I awake to morniiig-'s lig-ht 

And cast aside the shades of nig-ht, 

Before I start upon my way 

To use the hours of each new day, 

I pause awhile to think intent 

On how those hours may best be spent. 

I think of how each word I say 

Some soul for g-ood or ill will sway; 

Of how each act is seed I sow, 

To make men g-lad or bring- them woe. 

I think of how these fall again, 

And multiply in other men; 

And how they still shall fall and g-row 

Long- after I from earth shall g-o. 

I think of how I yet must meet 

That harvest g-reat, if chaff or wheat, 

To sing- with souls I led to lig-ht, 

Or weep for those I drove to night; 

And then I open wide my heart 

And pray that God may g-race impart, 

That all that day in word and deed 

I naught may sow but purest seed. 

And when the ev'ning shadows fall 

And nig-ht's dark mantle covers all. 

Before I lay me down to rest, 

I fold my arms across my breast 

And pause awhile to think intent 

On how the day's few hours were spent. 



I first recall the words I said, 

Which now are living-, not one dead; 

And then my deeds before me fly, 

Which too do live, ^nd cannot die; 

And as they pass before my mind 

So little g-ood in them I find, 

So much of wrong, and awful sin 

Where naug-ht but g-ood should e'er have been. 

That I am filled with g-rief and shame 

To thus dishonor Jesus' name. 

And as I think of how they live 

And still themselves to others g"ive, 

And thus for aye do spread and g-row 

To harvests g-reat of bitter woe, 

I lift my heart ag-ain in prayer 

And all my sin confess I there; 

And then I hear my Savior say, 

"Thoug-h countless be thy sins this day. 

If thou thy sins do now confess, 

Faithful am I thy soul to bless; 

Thy sins are all forg-iven thee — 

Thy soul from all uncleanness free." 

And so I lay me down to rest, 

A sinner-soul by pardon blest. 

But ne'er forget for grace to pray 

To spend arig-ht the coming- day. 



37 



achnowlc^oing 1bim. 

Proverbs 3:H. 

In all thy ways acknowledg-e Him, 

And He thy steps will lead; 
He'll make thy pathway straig-ht and smooth, 

And aye supply thy need. 

Acknowledg-e Him with godly fear, 
In thought, and word, and deed, 

So that thy heart from ev'ry wrong 
May turn, His voice to heed. 

Acknowledge Him with fervent love — 

For Him, the Good and True; 
A love which moves to seek lost souls. 

As He has sought for you. 

Acknowledge Him with steadfast trust, 

That He, with perfect love. 
By wisdom, goodness, pow'r and truth 

Will lead thee home above. 

In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him, 

And then whate'er befall. 
Thou cans't dismiss perplexing care. 

And praise His name in all. 



38 



'•(lomc Ubou to /iDe." 



"Oh! burdened soul,'" the Savior calls, 

"Come thou to Me. 
Thy many stumbling's and thy falls 

1 clearly see. 

"I know the burden thou dost bear; 

Come thou to Me, 
And lay it down in fervent prayer — 

Thy soul I'll free. 

"If burdened now bv sin and sfuilt, 

Come thou to Me. 
For sin. My precious blood was spilt — 

'Tw^as shed for thee. 

" 'Twill cleanse thy soul from ev'ry stain- 
Come thou to Me. 

'Twas never yet applied in vain. 
And ne'er will be, 

"Temptations press thee long- and sore — 

Come thou to Me. 
My help and succor now implore; 

Thy need's thy plea. 

"I'll save thee from temptation's pow'r — 

Come thou to Me — 
And g-ive thee vict'ry ev'ry hour, 

Till thou art free. 



39 



"In sorrow, pain, or death's dread g-loom. 

Come thou to Me. 
I'll be thy lig"ht e'en throug-h the tomb, 

And thou shalt see. 

"Oh! troubled soul, whate'er thy need, 

Come thou to Me. 
Thy cause I'll ne'er refuse to plead — 

I died for thee. 

"More than thy needs, is mine to g-ive — 

Come thou to Me. 
In Me shalt thou abide and live. 

And I in thee." 






40 



JExbovtations. 



O, lost one, hear! 

Salvation full, God offers thee, 
From sin and death to set thee free — 
Take it! 
If thou dost hear, 

A full surrender thou must make. 
And all thy sinful vvay^ forsake — 
Make it! 

O, Christian, note! 

The g-ospel g^ift of life in thee 
For all mankind is meant to be — 
Give it! 
If thou dost note, 

That Gospel which thou dost profess 
Will throug-h thy life thy brothers bless- 
Live it! 

O, weary, list! 

That burden g-reat of crushing- care 
Was never meant for thee to bear — 
Drop it! 
If thou dost list, 

The Savior says, "Come unto me. 
In nothing- shalt thou anxious be" — 
Stop it! 

O, tempted, heed! 

The tempter doth thy soul assail, 
But God's free grace doth never fail — 
Seek it! 



41 



If thou dost heed, 

Then canst thou say to Satan, "hence." 
That word, by g^race, is thy defense — 
Speak it! 

O, dying-, hear! 

Dread death hath, more, no bitter sting 
For those who to the Cross do cling- — 
Raise it! 
If thou dost hear, 

Thy death's the door to bliss above, 
To live, as saved, in God's g-reat love — 
Praise it! 






42 



JEvcniitQ JBrce^cs. 

Sweet breezes blow, so soft and low, 

At twilig-ht's sacred hour, 
That day storms cease to calms of peace, 

Beneath their soothing- pow'r. 

They softly sing-, and kindly bring. 

As messeng-ers of rest, 
Sweet words of love, from God above, 

Which calm the troubled breast. 

They kindl}' bear the loads of care 

From burdened hearts away, 
While on their wings, where nig-ht peace sing-s, 

Rag-e all the storms of da v. 

They lull to sleep the eyes that weep. 

And g-ently dry their tears. 
For day's deep g-rief they bring- relief. 

And hope they g-ive for fears. 

But not for all, who look and call, 

Do these sweet breezes blow. 
'Tis but for them who day -storms stem 

With faith and hope a-g-low. 

For low'ring- clouds, the ev'ning shrouds, 

And storms the silence break. 
For all who spurn God^s will to learn. 

And ways of truth forsake; 

While only they who use life's day, 
When twilig-ht's hour shall come. 

May hope to g-reet, its breezes sweet 
To waft their spirits home. 

43 



H /iDornina IPra\:er. 

Ahnig-hty God, who art in Heav'n, 
By whom all g-ood to men is g-iv'n: 

To Thee I lift my heart in prayer, 
And with my lips thy g-race declare. 

For me thou hast this wonder wrought. 
That to this day I'm safely brought; 

And have been kept through shades of night. 
To taste the joys of this day's lig-ht. 

Defend me now, by pow'r divine. 

That throug-h this day I may be thine; 

And from all sin and danger free 
May I this day, please only Thee. 

iMay all I think, and say and do 
Be rig-hteous, holy, pure and true; 

That I thy purpose mav fulfill, 
Help me to know and do thy will. 

Mv strength must come alone from Thee, 
For naug-ht of streng-th is there in me; 

And only grace from thy dear hand, 
Can lift me up and make me stand. 

All this I ask for Jesus' sake. 

For He alone can rig-hteous make; 

Alone can take my sins away. 

And keep my soul from day to day. 

And to Thee, — Father, Spirit, Son,— 

Eternal Three, Eternal One, 
May g"lory, love, and praises be 

Through time and all eternity. 

44 



Xlbe ConMtion ot Ibappiness. 

With each new day, if you will pray 
"Thy will be done by me;" 

And seek to know, where'er you g-o, 
What His dear will may be, 

And seek in all, both g-reat and small, 
To use the means He'll g-ive, — 

By which His will He would fulfil 
In all who for Him live, — 

Each day will bring- to you that thing- 
Which most of joy can bear — 

A conscience clear, without a fear, 
And heart that's free from care. 

And since you know, e'en here below. 
Because He's g-ood and true, 

That all He wills, and here fulfils 
Bring-s naug-ht but good to you, 

Your joy and peace will aye increase. 

And cares will fly away. 
True happiness your life will bless, 

While thus you watch and pray. 



4S 



mbat /iDaUes a flDan? 



What makes a man? 

Not royal blood, nor title g-rand, 
Not hutre estate of g-old or land, 

Nor all of worldly fame. 
Not fine physique^ nor brilliant mind; 
No one of these, nor all combined. 

Can more than make a name. 
F'rom all the world bring- treasures rare, 
Let fame with fortune have her share, 
Bring- royal crowns from all the earth. 
With all that comes from royal birth; 
Choose now, for face, and form, and mind. 
The best there is of human kind — 
ALttd though all this he may possess, 
It may be naug-ht for him, and less, 

And he be not a man. 

What makes a man? 

A noble heart which seeks to Hnd 

God's thoug-ht for man in God's own mind. 

And then to think God's thought; 
Whose purpose is (Tod's ways to scan 
Therein to find its own life plan. 

Which God himself hath wroug-ht. 
A heart which hath the pow'r to see 
In other hearts the Deity- — 
Which finding God its all in all. 
Counts naug-ht of His as mean or small, 
Yet will not g-rovel nor bestow 

46 



The thoug-hts of Ileav'n on thing-s below; 
Loves man in God, and God in man~ 
And thus works out its great life plan. 
The heart, it makes the man. 




47 



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